Buffalo Rumblings
If the Bills had to win a game today assembling an all-star team of defenders from the last 25 years, who makes the roster?
Over the course of the last 25 years, the Buffalo Bills and their fans have ridden a roller coaster of football emotions, from a 17-year playoff drought and no true answers at quarterback, to a well-run organization that’s now won five consecutive AFC East division titles as a perennial playoff participant and Super Bowl contender.
It’s true that during the last two-and-a-half decades the defense hasn’t always been a powerhouse. That said, some very talented defenders have come through the doors at One Bills Drive, helping keep Buffalo afloat during some very lean seasons early in the 21st century.
As the first installment in this series — one where I’ll look back at the rosters during the last 24 years of Bills football — my focus is on constructing what would be Buffalo’s ultimate defense. Longevity won’t be valued more than peak performance in this exercise. I’ve tried to define the best players as the ones who were more dominant in their primes.
Good players who were good for a longer period won’t beat out the most-talented ones on their best days here. I’ll pick this team as if the Bills had to win a single, quarter-century Super Bowl against another franchise’s roster, and I’ll have first-, second-, and third-team choices made.
Without further ado, here is my Bills' quarter-century front 7 selections. Do you agree with my choices for the definitive Bills front 7 of the 2000s?
Schobel’s 2006 season (14 sacks, 53 tackles, 3 forced fumbles) was a pass-rushing masterpiece, shredding offensive lines with a blistering first step and relentless motor. During his career, he consistently showed an ability to collapse pockets and chase down runners to force critical errors.
Schobel’s prime was a perfect blend of speed, power, and instinct. His ability to disrupt elite quarterbacks ensures he’s one of the two starting edge rushers of this defensive front, capable of consistently altering the opponent’s rhythm when healthy during his career.
Kyle Williams’ 2013 season (10.5 sacks, 42 tackles, 14 quarterback hits) showcased his interior disruption, blowing through double-teams with explosive quickness and low-leverage power. Always dominant in clogging run lanes and collapsing pockets, often the first out of his stance and living on opponents' backfields, Williams never lacked game-wrecking ability, no matter what players lined up alongside him.
At his peak, he was a one-man force, indispensable for controlling the line of scrimmage against both power runs and quick-passing attacks in a must-win scenario. And how about his leadership, on and off the field? The ultimate Buffalo Bill, Williams is a no-brainer choice.
Marcell Dareus’ 2014 season (10 sacks, 49 tackles, 12 quarterback hits) was a clinic in interior havoc, overpowering guards with a rare blend of 330-pound strength and agility....
